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E36 (1991 - 1999) The E36 chassis 3-Series BMW was a huge hit among driving enthusiasts from the first moment the car hit the pavement. The E36 won numerous awards over the years it was produced and is still a favorite of many BMW enthusiasts to this day! -- View the E36 Wiki

Roof went down no problem, when I tried to raise again, I held the switch to come back up and the windows went down an inch at a time, there was a relay behind glove box clicking simutaneously with the window action, the roof would not go up.

Managed to manually get the roof back up again, reset motors. Now nothing when I hold down the switch to lower the roof, the red LED on the roof open switch is not even coming on.

If I now turn off ignition, hold down the roof close switch whilst turning the ignition key (only turning the ignition key 2 turns without starting the engine) and wait for 10 seconds. If I then press the roof open switch I get the same relay behind glove box clicking simutaneously with the windows going down an inch at a time, the roof will not go down, nothing happens, not even the back hold opens up.

Not sure if things are linked, but the driver side window also sticks when trying to close (i.e. I press the window to go up and it stutters, have to press the window up button a few times before it eventually closes.)

Looking at the service manual; and the only relay that's behind the glove box is the "Lugguage Compartment Lid Lock Relay". I would say you need to first check that since it's clicking when you try to bring your top down. It should be to the very right corner; directly below the A/C vent. The manual says you'd have to take out the glove compertment though, and I know putting it back together could be a pain as I've heard; I think the hard part is getting the door the align correctly with the dash trim.

If you have any more questions or need more help, please feel free to ask

I would reccommend taking a look at the Lugguage Compartment Lid Lock Relay as mentioned because the luguage compartment is linked with the roof. I had a problem with mine and it was a switch located under the back cover where the roof goes in and it was the switch which locks the luguage compartment when the roof goes up.

Roof went down no problem, when I tried to raise again, I held the switch to come back up and the windows went down an inch at a time, there was a relay behind glove box clicking simutaneously with the window action, the roof would not go up.

Managed to manually get the roof back up again, reset motors. Now nothing when I hold down the switch to lower the roof, the red LED on the roof open switch is not even coming on.

If I now turn off ignition, hold down the roof close switch whilst turning the ignition key (only turning the ignition key 2 turns without starting the engine) and wait for 10 seconds. If I then press the roof open switch I get the same relay behind glove box clicking simutaneously with the windows going down an inch at a time, the roof will not go down, nothing happens, not even the back hold opens up.

Not sure if things are linked, but the driver side window also sticks when trying to close (i.e. I press the window to go up and it stutters, have to press the window up button a few times before it eventually closes.)

the windows going down an inch at a time - - anyone have a solution for this, my battery died in MID Lowering while detailing it so I had to reset the top, Now the method for resetting it wont work and Ive done it before, instead of the cover lowering and locking the windows move down an inch at a time and the cover doesnt budge , , HELP, , dont want to bring to the dealer and get my pants pulled down ! ! ! !

Very interesting. I have had no troubles with my top on my '99 M3, until this weekend. The battery had died ( don't know why) so I jumped it. When (later) I tried to lower the top, the windows came down an inch at a time (like 3 times) and then stopped. The top/front of the vert top lifted about a foot from the window-edge and stopped. This top has not moved itself since. I had to manually lower w/ the allen key found in the trunk. I then started doing some research on the top. I checked the tonneau cover motor bits down there and it seemed that the wires that run to the locks on the tonneau were VERY tight. Then I popped the motor by hand to release from the rack for the Emergency/manual option. I popped the conv. frame motor too. I cycled the top manually a couple times and tried to resynch the motors. Nothing. No sounds/no movement. Nada. Hmm. I don't know what the heck is wrong. Seems that things stopped working normally when the battery died. It also seemed like the tonneau cover was no opening due to being super tightly drawn closed by the tonneau motor. I am nearly stuck!

To follow up:
I had to take it to a repair shop...guess I got lucky, because Conaway motors in Everett, Wa. had the computer-scanner tool that allowed them to resynch the control module/drive motors.
Everything works again. He said that, "upon power disruption (my battery had died), the need for a computer resynch was predictably unpredictable." He said that upon my query about 'if I changed my battery, would I have to have you resynch?" He said sometimes yes and sometimes no.
Who knows?
Anyway, it works again. Pretty happy about that. Thanks for the the help, David Mc. It is appreciated! That manual is really great!
~Travis